Rashes and Hives

Skin rashes and hives indicate excess pitta or heat in the body; the Ayurvedic approach is to provide a cooling effect from both the inside and outside.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF. Whatever the cause of the rash, whether allergies, an insect bite, or something else, cilantro juice will be immediately effective. Wash fresh cilantro, chop it into pieces, put it into the blender, add ⅓ cup of water, and blend. Drink the juice, and apply the pulp directly onto the skin.

TOPICAL SOLUTIONS. The following remedies applied directly to the skin will help soothe and heal rashes and hives:

• If you have a fresh coconut, break it open and apply the coconut water to the rash.
• Melon can also be soothing to rashes and hives. Eat some melon, and rub the remaining rind (not the outer tough skin) over your skin. With watermelon, eat the red part and rub the white part of the rind onto your skin.
• For rashes, hives, and other high-pitta conditions such as nausea, steep 1 teaspoon coriander, ½ teaspoon cumin, and 1 teaspoon natural sugar in 1 cup hot milk. Drink once or twice a day.
• You can also use a paste made of sandalwood and turmeric powders mixed in goat’s milk. This paste is healing for the skin. The formula is simple:

turmeric 1 part
sandalwood powder 2 parts

Mix up about a teaspoon of powder in this proportion, add sufficient goat’s milk to make a paste, and apply it to the affected area. Cow’s milk is acceptable, but goat’s milk is more effective. PLEASE NOTE: Your skin will look yellow for some time—up to 3 or 4 days—after you use the paste.

FOR INTERNAL HEALING. Here is an effective formula to help restore health to your skin from the inside:

coriander 2 parts
cumin 1 part
raw natural sugar 2 parts

Steep ½ teaspoon of this mixture in a cup of hot milk, and drink it once or twice a day until the condition is healed.